Apparatus for making sealed packages



Oct. 28,1952 R. A. FARRELL ET AL 2,615,377

` APPARATUS FOR MAK-ING SEALED PACKAGES Fild lay 10. 1949 17Sheets-Sheet l 0ct. 28, 1952 R. A. FARRELL. Erm.. 615x377 APPARATUS FORMAKING sEALEoPAcxAGEs Filed May 1o, 1949 17 Sheetssheet 2 Oct. 28, 1952.R. A. FARRELI. ETAL 2,515,377

Y APPARATUS Foa MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Filed May 10, 1949 17Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct.- 28, 1952 R. A, FARRELL- ETAL APPARATUS Fok MAKINGSEALED PACKAGES 17 -Sheets-Sheet 4 l www www NGN Oct. 28, 1952 l R. A.FARRELL ETAL 2,615,377

APPARATUS PoR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Filed May 10. 1949 17 Sheets-SheOb5 l I 24' 'l 'l 2z.N 30 EN 28 if; Z5 2 i A 9 i mr n m Oct. 28, 1952 R.A. FARRELL ETAL 2,513,377

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEMQED PACKAGES Filed May 10. 1949 1'7 Sheets-Sheet6 Oct. 28, 1952 R. A. FARRELL x-:TAL 2,615,377

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Filed May 1o, 1949 1'7 sheets-sheet'7 Oct. 28, 1952 R. A. FARRELL ETAL 2,515,377

' APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Filed May 10. 1949 I 17Sheets-Sheet 8 raw e Barg Oct. 28, 195.*:2 R. A. FARRl-:LL ETAL615,-377l APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES med may 1o. 1949 17sheets-sheet s Joa 72 zza 0 Zavefz Z0 715 @mwa/ZW y@ Oct, 28, 1952 R. A.FARRl-:LL ETAL.. 2,615,377'

APPARATUS ma MAKING SEALED PACKAGES 'Filed May 1o, 1949 17 Sheets-Sheet10 Oct. 28, 1952 R. A. FARRELL. :TAL V'2156151377 APPARATUS FOR MAKINGSEALED PACKAGES Filed May 1o. 1949 '17 sheets-sheet 11 AIIAIHMMHI, gp l,

R. A. FARRELL ETAL APPARATUS FOR MAKING vSEALED PACKAGES 17 Sheets-Sheet12 Filed May 10, 1949 Oct. 28, 1952 R. A. FARRl-:LL ErAL 2,615,377

APPARATUS Foa MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Filed nay 1o. 194s 17 sheets-sheet15 55 j jizz/62030145 Ha/M j@ Oct. 28, 1952 R. A. FARRELL rAL. 2,615,377

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Filed May 10. 1949 l 17Sheets-Sheet 14f Ot.; 28, 1952 yR. A. FABRELL Erm. A y2561"5377APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES I. I

Filed lay 10. 1949 1v Smets-sheer 1'5 Oct. 28,'1952 R. A. FARREuL. srAL2,615,377

`PPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Filed nay 1o 19119 17 sheets-sheet.1e

Oct. 28, 1952 R. A. FARRELL ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGESFiied may 1o. 1949 zzz 17 Sheets-Sheet 1'7 /ZZQ 216 219 /Ifw Patentedct. 28, 1952 APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEALED PACKAGES Robert A. Farrell,Menasha, and *William* G. .Mueller and August Bartes, Jr., Neenah,lWis., as'signors to Marathon Corporation, Rothschild, l'vVis., acorporation 'of Wisconsin Application May 10, 1949,"Seria1 N 0:92,'344

This invention relates to an apparatus for making packages and moreparticularly to an apparatus forinserting and sealing flexiblemembranes-in the ends of rectangular paper carton and the like.

In the co-pending .application Serial No. 686,53*?,filed July 26, 1946,of one of-the inventors hereof, lRobert A. Farrell, now U. S. Paten-t2,496,043, dated January 31, 1950, there is disclosed a novel type ofpackage wherein a fiexible membrane, preferably made of flexiblesheetvma` terial, such .as paper coated *wit'ha heat `scalableadhesive,l is vheat sealed tothe inner wal-l surfaces as well as theendy flaps at each end of a `rectangularcarton so as Ito render thecarton leak-proof and vdust-proof. In another pending v'application oftwo of the inventorsvhereof, Robert A. Farrell and William G.A Mueller,SerialfNo.

761,968, filed July 18, 1947, now U. S. 'Patent 2,609,735, datedSeptember 9, 1952, there is disautomatically supplied from a roll ofpaper' and located over'the end of a carton in preparation fortheinser-tion of the membrane and-the 'heat sealing thereof to the innerwalls of the carton. In a preferred embodimentof our improvedapparatusrectangular cartons may yb'e placed on an-intermittent conveyer andcarriedby said conyeyer to a `first station where a, membrane is locatedon Aan open lend of the cartonand temporarily 4secured or `ailxed inposition. The

membrane is supplied from a, roll of paperand is cut to size by suitable.cutting 'means and'carried into position and secured tothe carton bymeans of pressure elements. The conveyer then carries the carton with a'membrane so located thereon to a second stationwhere a-sealing headlinserts a portion of the membrane Awithin the carton -whilesimultaneously heating the membrane so as to effect aheat seal of themembrane to the inner walls of the carton. The sealing head performs afurther function of 'heat seai-V inga portion of the membrane to the endflaps of-,the carton. Carton supporting and pressure means cooperatewith the sealing head. After this Voperati-on is performed the conveyer'then carries the carton-withfa` membrane affixed therein to 'adischarge point.

In our apparatus lthe various `mechanical steps first station.

are so arranged and timed wit'hfrespet vto veach other that 'theoperations at thefirst station and the second station can be carried onsimultaneously thus effecting a high rate of production.

- Not only is this the; rs-t apparatusy to carry-out vthe Variousfunctions abo-ve described for thepurp'ose of producing so--calledend-sealed cartons 'at a commercially acceptable rate but also '"We"have provided mechanism for imp-roving the sealthat is obtained. v

Ourimproved apparatus will be better understood fro-m thef'o-llowingdescription of apreferred vembodiment and-by reference -tothe-'attached drawings forming `a part thereof and wherein like parts ineach of the figures Abear like numerals and wherein: f

Figurelis'a right front elevation.

Figure 2 is a left front elevation.

Figure 3 isa partial rear perspective.

Figure 4. is a partial front perspective showing the first and secondloperating stations.

Figure 5 is a f-ragmentaryview'showinginffront elevation a cartonpartly'mountedon a conveyer.

AFigure 6 isa fragmentary view'inside elevation with parts broken awayof a carton yinposition ori-the conveyer.

.Figure '7 is a fragmentary View in f'rntlele'v'ation with parts brokena'wa'yof -a cartoninunted on the conve'ye'r.v y,

Figure 8-is a'vertica1'1`section of 'our apparatus taken alongthe line 88 fofV Figure '1.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View slho'wiil-'githe membrane feed forming apart of the rst station. Figure 1U is a fragmentary perspective viewshowing the membrane placement 'he'addf 'the Figure l1 is 'similar tothe 'View o f Figure '1"0 showin-g the placement head in the position ofauxiliary mechanism for injecting membranes into positionin the membrane.pl-acementhead .when the head is in up position.

.e one end of the carton.

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 16 with the placement head in downposition.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary plan view of movable die members forsupporting the carton at the second station.

Figure 19 is `a fragmentary perspective of thev sealing head at thesecond station in sealing position over a carton.

Figure 20 is a plan View of one of the movable die membersv with partsbroken away.

Figure 2l is a side elevation of the die member of Figure 20 shownpartially in section.

Figure 22 is a right 'side elevation of themovable die member in Figures20and 21.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary side elevation with parts broken away showingrelative position of the sealing head and movable dies when the sealinghead is in up position.

Figure 24 is a view similar to that in Figure 23 with the sealing headin down position.

Figure 25 is a 'fragmentary view showing` hydraulic mechanism foroperating the movable dies.

Figure 26 is a fragmentary section of the sealing head taken generallyalong the lineA 25g-2G of Figure 24.

Figure 27 is a plan view of one part ofthe sealing head.

Figure 28 is a front elevation of the part i Figure 27.

Figure 29 is a side elevation of the part in Figure 27.

Figure 30 is a fragmentary side elevationof a portion of the sealinghead. y

' Figure 3l is an end view of the part in Figure Figure 32 is a view ofthe expanding blade p0rtions of the sealing head as viewed upwardly as nin up position.

Figure 33 is similar to Figure 32 with the seal- ,ing head in downposition.

Figure 34 is a fragmentary section of the sealing head taken generallyalong the line 315-34! of Figure 23.

Figure 35 is a similar view to that in Figure 34 and is taken along theline 35-35 of Figure 24.

Figure 36 is afragmentary enlarged View of one of the link members inthe sealing head.

Figure 37 is an enlarged plan view of a template forming a part of thesealing head.

Figure 38 is a side view of the template in Figure 37.

Figure 39 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modified sealinghead.

Figure 40 is afragmentary view partially in section showing a modifiedcarton support.

Referring to Figures l, 2, 3 and 4 it'will be seen that our apparatusmaycomprise generally a table or frame i upon which is mounted anendless conveyer 2 which is suitably designed to Carry cartons 3 toa'rst station 4 where individual membranes are positioned on the cartonsand thence to a membrane sealing station 5 where the membranes areinserted. and heat sealed in Y The apparatus is all powered by a powersource such as electric motor connected to a suitable gear reductiondrive l. The drive is connected to a central drive shaft S through achain drive 9. A hand wheel 9a. is provided on the end of the driveshaft soas to obtain an optional manual drive of our apparatus. ,Thecentral Vdrive shaft 8 is driven continuously whereas the conveyersystem 2 operates intermittently. This is accomplished through a Genevadrive it which is in turn connected to one of the sprockets Il of theconveyer through a suitable coupling, such as chain or belt I2. TheGeneva drive iii is of the conventional type having crank I3 xed todrive shaft 8.

Conveyer 2 may be of any suitable form but preferably comprises anendless chain I3 carried by sprockets il and lf3 which are suitablymounted on the table or frame l by brackets i5 and I6. Bracket i6 isslidably mounted on the table so that the tension on the chain may beadjusted by the adjustment screw il'.

The cartons 3 are carried by the conveyer by means of carriages 2G. Thecarriages 20 (see Figures 5, 6 and 7) include a mandril portion 2l overwhich a squared up carton can be placed by hand or by suitable cartonset-up mechanism (not shown). The carton is held on the mandril throughthe frictional engagement of spring nngers 22 which are secured at theirupper end to the mandril by screws 23. The spring fingers 22 serve anadditional function and that is'of guiding the flaps 24 of the cartonoutwardly so that when the carton is in position they rest extendedagainst the base of the mandril 25.

The mandril portion ofV the carriage is secured to an elongated link 26forming a .part of the chain I3 by screws 2l. Protecting plates 28 andZ9 are secured tothe base 25 by screws 3d which plates prevent thecarton from coming into contact with the chain. Rail members 3i and 32which extend along side of the chain i3 on the upper side of theconveyer provide tracks for the link member 25 and thus serve to supportthe carriages as they move from one end of the apparatus to the other.have suitably spaced gaps 33 to accommodate the long links upon whichthe carriages aresupported.

After a carton hasy been positioned cna carriage it is carried forwardby the conveyer '2 to the first station 4. In the course of travel tothe station 4 the upper aps 34 of the carton 3 are folded outwardly inall directions so as to expose an open end of the carton for placementof the membrane. The mechanism for folding the upper flaps is similar tothat employed in packaging equipment. A revolving kicker 35 engages thefront fiap of the carton and forces it beneath the leading end of aguide rail 35. Parallel with guide rail 35 are two other guide rails 37and 38 which are so shaped so as to engage the side flaps of the cartonto cause them to fold outwardly. The guide rail 36 engages the rear flapandthe progressive movement of the carton causesit to be foldeddownwardly. Beneath the guide rails 35, 3l and 38 are a pair ofsupporting rails 39 and GG which serve to hold the upper part of thecarton in position and aid in maintaining the side'iiaps in an outwardlyextended position.

The kicker 35 is fixed to a shaft 43a which in turn is journaled inbrackets 4l and d2 mounted on the table. The shaft lila is rotated by aspur gear 43 fixed to the shaft which in turn is engaged by a secondspur gear lit pivotably mounted on bracket lll. Gear it is driven by asprocket 25, which is keyed to it, chain 4B and sprocket 61 keyed toshaft 48 which is the shaft to which conveyer sprocket lli is alsokeyed. Thus the kicker moves intermittently in time and relation to theconveyer. v

The carton with its top flapsA extended outwardly moves into position atstation` ll and remains there while the membrane'is positioned and presssealed tothe carton. Y

The sprocket wheels il and lll Ihe membranefeeding station 4 comprises astrip of membranes l50 (see Figures 8 and 9) wound on a'spindle 52'inthe formof a roll 5I which in turn is journaled and supported onbrackets 53 and-54 which in turn are bolted to a table I. The paper hasbeen die cut and coated so as t present a'plurality of octagonal shapedheat scalable membranes. The strippass'es from the roll down beneath aguide roll 55 which is also journaledin the brackets 53 and 54 andpasses upwardly into engagement with a rotating drum 56 which serves asa feed drum lfor the paper strip. The drum 56 is provided with spacedlugsf51 which correspond to the cut out portions of the paper strip andhence provide driving lugs which prevent slipping of the paper on thefeed roll. The feedy roll is journaled in a frame memberfv 58 which isbolted to the table or frame I. A smoothing -roll 50 hinged to the frame58 serves to keep the paper on the roll 56 so that it 'will be movedforward by rotation ofthe roll. The strip of membranes 50 passes fromthe roll 56 through a rotary cutter comprising a bottom roll 60 having apair of knives 6| and 62 radially mounted therein which ycooperates withan anvil' roll 63 having inserts 64 and 65 which cooperate with theknives to cut the paper ribbon at the `junction of each of the octagonalshapedmembranes. A membrane that has been severed by the cutter -isready for introduction intothe membrane placement head when said kheadis'in proper position.

The placement head 10 (see Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13) includes a channelmember`1| at the base of which is secured a block 12 secured to thechannel member by screws 13. Depending from each edge of the block 12are a pair of sheet metal holders 14 and 15 which are adapted to receivethe membrane from feeding rolls 16 and 11 during the course of travel ofthe placement head 10 in a vertical reciprocating motion. Thisreciprocating motion is imparted to the placement headby means of arotary cam 18 mounted on an axle 19 which is journaled in a bearing 80supported by the frame member 58. The channelmember 1I is slidablysecured to the frame v58 by slide 8| (see Figure l5). At the upper endof the channel member is a cam roller 82 secured -by a bolt 83 which camroller rides on an internal cam surface 84 of the cam 18. Rotation ofthe cam 18 through shaft 19 and driving sprocket 80a will cause thechannel 1I and hence the yblock I2 'to rise and fall according totheshape yof .the cam.

When the block 12 is in its lower-most position, as shown moreparticularly in Figure 12, a membrane carried on holders 14 and 15 is inposition directly over the opening of the carton. The membrane is cutlarger than the opening of the carton so that a portion of it overlieseach of the iapsand it is so positioned that the diyagonals of themembrane lie adjacent each of the corners of the carton. b

In a modification of our preferred embodiment the membrane is properlypositioned within the .cavity formed by the holders 14 and 15 by means`of an auxiliary feeding means (see Figures 16 vand 17). The auxiliaryfeeding means is adapted to take a free membrane from the feed roll 16.and 11, which in many cases are adequate, and 'move or kick it into thecavity where its forward-most motion is limited by stops 85 extend- 6 f.rolls 1-6 and 11. YThe bar preferably includes lugs 81 which areladaptedupon rotation of the bar to engage the membrane'leaving the feed `rollsand move it into the cavity. 4The rod 86 is supported by brackets 88,(only one shown) secured to the frame y5I! and is oscillated by a crank89 which is connected through a linkage -90 to `a cam follower 9|. `Abracket 92 mounted `on the channel member 1| strikes the cam follower 9|in its downward motion causing it to swing inwardly, as shown in Figure16,V so as to cause rotation of the rod 86. The spring 93 connected tothe linkage f' 90 lserves to restore the position of rod 86 and lugs81when the placement head is moved upwardly out of contact with thefollower 0I.

After the membrane has been placed by the placement head it is necessaryto temporarily affix the membrane so that it will remain in posivtionwhen moving to the second station'. To accomplish this four pressurepins |00 vare provided which are slidablymounted in holes at each cornerof the block 12. The upper end of these pins passthrough a camfollowerbracket |0| and are provided with adjusting nuts `|02 whichlimit the downward movement of the pins.

The pins have a reduced diameter portion |03 about which arecoil springsI 04 which are adapted to urge the pins downwardly with respect Vto thecam followerbracket |0|. Other `coil springs |05 serve to urge thebracket I0| andthe block 12 apart.

Rotatably mounted at the top ofthe cam bracket |0I is a cam follower |06which moves downwardly under pressure from cam surface |01 formed on alug |08 secured to the cam 10.

- Downward movement of the follower |06 and hence of bracket IOI exertsa pressure against the coil springs |05 which in turn urges the pins |00downwardly and into contact with the membrane carried in the cavity of.the head 12. Continued downward movement of the bracket'II 4 results ina resilient pressure seal caused by the pins I 60 under pressure ofsprings |04 in cooperation with supporting rails 39 and 40 vas 'moreclearly shown in vFigure '14..

In order to obtain clearance for the membrane placement head itisnecessary to interrupt guide rail 36 which it will be remembered yservestohold the front and rear naps down as the carton moves through theapparatus. To retain the flaps down therefore when the carton moves intoposition at station 4 an auxiliary rail III) is'provided. Rail I0 iscarried on arms ||0a which is secured to a shaft II pivotally mounted onbrackets I I2 and |I3. A spring II4 on the shaft II| normally urges theauxiliary rail I0 outwardly so as `to provide clearance for theplacement head when in its lower-most position. In order to swing theauxiliary rail inwardly so as to beeffective Yin holding down the'frontand rear aps of the carton when the placement head is in'up positionthere is provided on shaft III an upwardly extending arm II5 at the endof which is a cam -ment head all `move 1in 4timed relation .and are

